mercee



(No`Mrodel.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. H.' MERCER.

` STALK `CHOPlER-- Paten-ted Feb. 5,l 1884. 711( z y 2 sheetssheen 2.

(No Model.)

v W. EMERGBR.

10.29120155. ,Patented Peb. #5, 1884.

'than a rotary motion.

the stalks as they lie upon the ground. In or- As the knives in time become not only dull, f

der to give this outer cylinder this vertical but Worn away, theears or projections upon the play, so as to enable it to act as a cleaner for cylinder to Which they are bolted will be made the knives, there is made a circular opening, I, through each of its ends, which openings are much larger than the shaft upon which it is journaled. This outer cylinder, H, is not attached to any part or thing, so as to be held in place. It has a movement in proportion as these openings are larger than the shaft. The outer cylinder, H, being left free to move, the knives or cutters will project through itsslots as the machine is drawn along. As these knives or cutters would become dulled or broken in drawing the machine along roads in order to take it to and from the field, it becomes necessary to provide means for holding the cylinder `H so that it shall have` no other For this purpose the sliding plugs rO are placed upon the shaft, (or plugs are used large enough to fill the openings 'through the ends of the cylinder H.) To

these plugs are secured the operating-rods l?, which are attached at their front ends to the lever Q. This lever is provided with a pawl, which engages With a suitable ratchet, for the purpose of holding the lever in any desired position. When these plugs are moved outward, so that they do not enter the openings in the ends of the cylinder H, the cylinder has a vertical play, as abovelescribed. \Vhen, however, the plugs are forced into the openings, the cylinder is then connected directly tothe shaft, so as to revolve with it, and will have no other than a rotary motion. As the diameter of this cylinder H is just equal to the diameter of the inner cylinder, together with its knives, this outer cylinder then forms a protector Whichprevents all danger of the knives coming in contact with the ground The tWo cylinders then revolve together as perfectly as if they were united togetl1er,\vhich is not the -case when the plugs are moved outward, so as to leave the outer cylinder, H, free to play up and `down upon the shaft.

slotted; or the knives themselves may be provided with slots, so that they can be adjusted outwardly from time to time, as necessity may require.

Having thus described my invention, I claini A l.` In astalk-eutter, the combination of the slotted outer cylinder, H, having the openings I through its ends, and which is made to roll along upon the ground independently of the shaft which passes through it, the cylinder F, provided with cutters and secured rigidly to the shaft E, the single shaft Ewhich passes through both of the cylinders H F, and the frame A, the shaft being smaller than the openings I, so as not to control the movement of the cylinder H, substantially as shown.

2. In a stalk-cutter, the combination of the frame, a shaft journaled therein, the cylinder provided with cutters and secu-red rigidly to the shaft, the slotted inclosing-cylinder provided With openings through its ends larger vthan the shaft, the sliding plugs placed onthe ends of the shaft, and rods connected to the plugs for forcing them into the openings in the end of the cylinder, substantially as described.

3. The `combination o'f the frame, the shaft, the cylinder provided with knives, the outer slotted inclosing-cylinder, the plugs for connecting this cylinder to the shaft, the rods connected to the shaft, and the operating-lever, l

the parts being combined and arranged to operate substantially as set forth.

vIn testimony whereof I affix my signature .in presence of two witnesses.

XVM.'l H. MERCER.

\Vitnesses:

F. A. LEHMANN, A. S. IArrrsox. 

